The Fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians (Jeremiah 39:1–18)

I. God’s judgment on Zedekiah (39:1–7)

1 In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem, and besieged it. 2 In the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, the city was penetrated. 3 Then all the princes of the king of Babylon came in and sat in the Middle Gate: Nergal-Sharezer, Samgar-Nebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergal-Sarezer, Rabmag, with the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon. 4 So it was, when Zedekiah the king of Judah and all the men of war saw them, that they fled and went out of the city by night, by way of the king’s garden, by the gate between the two walls. And he went out by way of the plain. 5 But the Chaldean army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. And when they had captured him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, to Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced judgment on him. 6 Then the king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes in Riblah; the king of Babylon also killed all the nobles of Judah. 7 Moreover he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, and bound him with bronze fetters to carry him off to Babylon.

A. The Capture of the City.

The fall of Jerusalem was an event of such magnitude that the dates of the beginning of the siege and the final fall of the city are carefully preserved in these verses.

After the 30-month siege the Babylonians broke through the city wall. The officials of … Babylon entered the city and took seats in the Middle Gate. Other unnamed officials joined these men at the gate.

B. Zedekiah’s Flight and Capture.

When Zedekiah and all his remaining soldiers saw them, they fled the city. They headed toward the Arabah, the deep valley of the Jordan River north of the Dead Sea that extends to the head of the Gulf of ʿAqaba. They were fleeing in the direction of Jericho, perhaps intending to hide in that region or to cross the Jordan into Moab.

At Riblah, Nebuchadnezzar inflicted his vengeance on the rebellious Zedekiah. First, he slaughtered his sons before his very eyes. He then killed all the nobles, probably including the ones who had opposed Jeremiah (38:1). Next, he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, a common form of punishment in ancient times. Then he bound him with bronze shackles and led him away to Babylon, where he languished in prison till his death. Verse 7 contains the fulfillment of two prophecies: (1) that Zedekiah would see the king of Babylonia and then be taken to that country and (2) that he would die in Babylonia without seeing it.

II. God’s judgment on the city (39:8–10)

8 And the Chaldeans burned the king’s house and the houses of the people with fire, and broke down the walls of Jerusalem. 9 Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive to Babylon the remnant of the people who remained in the city and those who defected to him, with the rest of the people who remained. 10 But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left in the land of Judah the poor people, who had nothing, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.

A. The Babylonians set about systematically to destroy the entire city.

All the important buildings, including the royal palace, are set on fire, and the walls are broken down—this means the end of the fortified city.

Nebuzaradan gave the orders for destruction a month after the city fell. The Babylonians set fire to the “royal palace”. They also burned the temple and the “houses of the people.”

B. Nebuzaradan was “commander of the imperial guard.

He was responsible for rounding up the people who remained in the city who could be helpful to the Babylonians. The statement could not mean that all the people were taken to Babylon. He also took those who “had gone over to him”.

Nebuzaradan left behind some of the poor people, knowing they would not be a source of revolt. He gave them vineyards and fields to tend. There would be no benefit to the Babylonians to depopulate the region entirely. Those who were permitted to remain would be able to supply food for any of the army left as a “police” force or for a returning army, if that became necessary.

III. God’s care for His servants (39:11–18)

11 Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying, 12 “Take him and look after him, and do him no harm; but do to him just as he says to you.” 13 So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent Nebushasban, Rabsaris, Nergal-Sharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon’s chief officers; 14 then they sent someone to take Jeremiah from the court of the prison, and committed him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, that he should take him home. So he dwelt among the people. 15 Meanwhile the word of the LORD had come to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying, 16 “Go and speak to Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: “Behold, I will bring My words upon this city for adversity and not for good, and they shall be performed in that day before you. 17 But I will deliver you in that day,” says the LORD, “and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. 18 For I will surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword; but your life shall be as a prize to you, because you have put your trust in Me,” says the LORD.’ ”

A. The fate of the prophet Jeremiah.

King Nebuchadnezzar apparently knew about Jeremiah and his advice to surrender to Babylon. He makes sure, via Nebuzaradan, that Jeremiah is treated well. This doesn't mean that the prophet had had any communication with the Babylonian authorities prior to his capture. Jeremiah’s advocacy of surrender may have been known to Nebuchadnezzar through Jews already in exile.

Since the Lord had promised that Jeremiah would survive all the opposition and persecution against him (1:17–19; 15:20–21), He moved upon Nebuchadnezzar to release the prophet and treat him kindly.

B. A special word from the Lord is now included regarding Ebed-Melech.

He is to be spared in that dreadful day and moreover saved from his personal enemies, the same, no doubt, who had been Jeremiah’s

Disaster is proclaimed for the city, but there will be salvation for a ‘foreigner’ who saved God’s spokesman. His brave act of rescuing a hated prophet is interpreted as an act of trust in the God of Israel!

The story of the last days of Jerusalem, and of its fall, testifies not only to God’s anger with his sinful people, but also to the kindness of his providence. In the mass of confusing events, he preserves the life of his prophet and of other faithful servants. And even the severe punishment is meant for good in the end.